Coworker comes into my office, singing “Chuckie’s in Love!”
Ugh. Not this. Not now, please. What crappy timing. I wince, but I try to look Ok: Straighten up, look strong, confident, in charge and in control. I am none of these at the moment.
“How’s life, Chuck? You doing Ok?”
I do my best nod and smile, but apparently what I mustered had “not so much” written all over it.
Coworker gets a little twinge of concern: “You Ok, Chuck?”
This time, with more effort, I manage to squeak a “Sure, I’m good” out of my mouth and give a much better fake smile. The coworker relaxes.
“Well, it can’t be that bad, I mean…you’re not cryin’, right?!”
I think to myself, “You should have been here yesterday.”
I say instead, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” The coworker smiles and leaves.
Sigh.